A comparison of outcomes of carpal tunnel release in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

The coexistence of diabetes might complicate the diagnosis and operative outcomes of carpal tunnel syndrome. We retrospectively compared the results of carpal tunnel release in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. The group included 386 patients, 322 female (83%) and 64 male (17%) with a mean age of 57 years. A total of 41 patients (11%) were diabetic, whereas 345 (89%) did not have diabetes. Patients were followed-up at six months, by assessments that included Levine scores, filament tests, grip and pinch strength. No significant differences in any of the measured variables were found at the six-month assessment. The results of the study show that carpal tunnel release in diabetic and non-diabetic patients are similarly beneficial.